Means for regulating delivery of gas



N0V 5, 1940- J. A. HEIDBRINK 2,220,368 4 MEANs- FOR REGULATING DELIVERY 0F GAS A Filed May 21, 193s s sheets-sheet 1 Invenor.:

I wl ttor-n s.

Nov. 5, 1940.

JA. HEIDBRINK i MEANS FOR REGULATING DELIVERY OF GAS I Filed May 21, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2l NOV. 5, 940;

J.' A. HE1DBR|NK 2,220,368 MEANS FOR REGULA'TING DELIVERY oF Gas v Filed May 2l, 1938 l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 y FR3-5i Invelfor; D215 HeLdbrink.'

Y' Patented Nov. 5, 1940 ortica 2,220,368 MEANS FOR REGUATING DELIVERY F Jay A. Heidbrink, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, a. corporation of New York Application May 2l, 1938, Serial No. 209,296

. 8 Claims.

My invention relates to means for regulating delivery of gas in Varying external pressures at varying temperatures, and has for its primary object to supply to individual persons in an attenuated atmosphere, such, for example, as experienced in airplane travel at high altitudes or in ascending high mountains, air enriched by additions of oxygen suitably proportioned for the altitude reached or the degree of attenuation of the atmosphere. i

This application is an improvement on my copending application Serial Number 175,847, and it is a particular object of this invention to provide, in connection with control means automatically-actuated to increase the flow of oxygen as external air pressure diminishes, a means to compensate for changes in rate of operation of a pressure-stat employed for the purpose due to changes in temperature to which said pressurestat is subjected.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means such that an operator can regulate manually, through the temperature-compensating device, the rate of flow of oxygen in atmospheres of varying densities.

It is a particular object of my invention to provide regulator means operated by a hand nut for increasing o rdecreaslng ow of oxygen gas' from a source of supply 'which shall include a pressurestat for automatically varying said rate' of flow according to the degree of pressure exerted by the atmosphere in combination with thermostatic means which will operate to compensate for operativesvariations of the pressurestat du to variations intmperature. f It is a further object of my invention to provide such thermostatic means of a bimetallic thermostatic member wherein the part of the member having the greatest coeiicient of expansion shall be so related to the assemblage that as temperature rises the pressure exerted by the adjusting means through the thermostatic member will decrease, and as temperature falls that pressure will increase, thus compensating for the increased and decreased pressure of the gas Within the pressurestat member due to increase ordecrease oi its temperature.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a thermostaticmember with means for adjusting it lengthwise so as to increase or decrease its effective thrust for compensating adjustment of the pressurestat.

The full objects and advantages of my inven tion will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof, and its novel features are pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, illustrating anapplication of my invention in one form: Y

Fig. 1 illustrates the assemblage of oxygen-con- 5 tro] devices as it will appear, for example, within a cabin of an airplane. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1 taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is .a sectional elevation view on 10 line 4 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view` of a preferred form of a thermostatic compensating member. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a variant form of compensat- 15 ing member. Fig. 8 is a sectional View correspending in part to what is shown in the upper portion of- Fig. 5 showing use of the thermostatic `member illustrated in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows an- -other form of thermostatic metal in the position 20` expanded chamber Il having its top closed by a 30 'diaphragm I8. yBelow valve chamber I2 is an expanded chamber I9'v having its bottom closed by a diaphragm 2li. A 'Valve seat 2| is formed about the central opening I4 from valve chamber I I. The inner wall of valve chamber I I is cylin- 35 drical, and within it moves a valve head 22 which may be spaced around its edges from the inner wall of valve chamber II as indicated at 23. A coil spring 24 tends to force the plunger 22 against the valve. seat 2|. The diaphragm I8 is provided with a thrust pin 25 and has resting upon the diaphragm a head 26 which is engaged by a strong compression spring 2l. The spring 21 tends to move the diaphragm I8 and the pin 45 25 downwardly and the pin in turn is secured to and adapted to move the valve member 22 away from the valve seat 2| so as to permit gas to flow past it through opening I4 into chamber I'I. The valve chamber I2 has toward its bottom a valve 50 block 28, which is adapted to be engaged by valve seat 29 on a hexagonal valve head 30 in chamber I2. A compression spring 3| tends to move the valve head 30 so as to cause'the Valve seat 29 thereon to engage the valve block 28 and close ,55

communication between valve chamber I2 and expanded chamber I9.

Oxygen or other gas is supplied from any suitable source of supply under pressure through a 5 tube 32, Fig. 4, which conducts the gas by means of a union 33 and ports 34 to a chamber 35, Fig.

5. From the chamber 35 the gas passes through a ,suitable screening device indicated at 36, Fig.

v5, and into a passageway 31. As clearly shown l0 with a. chamber 38. The chamber 38 is provided with a .passageway 39 which is controlled by a double-acting valve member 48. This member 48 has a conical end 4| adapted to engage a, valve seat 42 around the margin of passageway 39 which opens into a chamber 43. The valve member 48 is provided with a shank 44 which is threaded as indicated at 45 into the interior of a `hollow closure nut 46 threaded into casing member 41 as shown at 48 in Figs. 4 and 5. The shank 44 has thereon an operating handle 49 by means of which the valve assemblage can be turned, which has the effect of causing the conical face 4| to engage or move from the valve face 42. The shank 44 is provided with a second valve face 58 adapted to engage valve seat 5| on a portion of nut 46. The structure of this device is such that in operation the handle 49 is movedto the end of one or another of its operative positions, one position, as in Fig. 5, resulting in closing ofi` all gas flow from passageway 39to chamber 43 and the other movement operating simultaneously to open these passages tov each other and to seal the device against gas leakage through contact of valve face 58 andvalve seat 5|.

Gas passes from the chamber 43 through ay passageway 5,2 intoa portion 53 of valve chamber |2 above the hexagonal valve head 38, from where it may pass along the faces of the valve head 38 to the lower portion of valve chamber I2.- The diaphragm 28 is provided with a pusher pin 54- which engages valve head 38 with a predetermined pressure from a powerful spring 55 adjustable by means of a setscrew 56. On the other hand, thepressure of gas from diaphragm 28 operates to move the valve head 38 in the opposite direction to cause engagement of the valve edge 29 -with the/face of the valve block 28. When, therefore, the pressure of spring 55 is sufficient to overcome the reverse pressure of gas upon diaphragm 28 the valve head 38 will be moved to separate the valve members and permit gas to iiow through passageway I6 into chamber I9. From chamber I9 gas may flow into valve chamber through a pipe indicated in dotted lines at 51 and having its orifice into chamber at 58, Fig. 5. When valve head 22 is held away from valve seat 2| by means of compression spring 21, gas may flow into chamber I1, from where it goes through passageways 59, 68 and 6| to a chamber 62. From chamber 62 the. gas may pass through a bore 63 to passageways 64, 65, Fig. 2, beneath the piston 66 in expanding passageway 61 within Y tube 61 to discharge pipe 68 from which the gas goes through a tubing 69 to the person or persons who, as shown in my aforesaid application, are providedwith a suitable mask or masks for receiving the gas. In some cases the gas may go direct from chamber 62 through bore 18, Fig. 3, past a stop valve 1| to delivery tube 12, which may lead to another person or persons, as, for example, an assistant pilot.

In some instances it may be desirable to deliver the gas without passing it through the regulator, as when, for some reason, the regulator becomes in Figs..4 and 5, the passage 31 communicates ineffective. To accomplish this l.a pipe 13 opens through an orice 14, Fig. 4, into a chamber 15.

'I'his chamber, connects by means of a needle valve seat 16 with the chamber 38 which is connected with the gas supply line. A needle valve 11 operated by a thumb screw 18 controls flow of gas to pipe 13. Pipe 13 in turn is connected by means of a delivery pipe 19 with a pipe connection 88,'which delivers the gas into chamber 62. In this manner the gas is by-passed around the regulator including the valve chamber as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Control of spring 21 and through it of delivery of gas through the regulating valve is automatically'eifected with suitable adjustments for differences in both pressure and temperature by means which will now be described. 'I'hese means are shown in plan elevation in Fig. 1, and in enlarged plan section in Fig. 5. A yoke member 88 is rigidly secured to cap member 8| fast on casing |8 and providing chamber 82 for housing the spring 21. Threaded through a bearing 83 in the upper yoke arm 84 of member 88 is a thumb lnut 9| which has a flange 85, a'shank 86 and a hollow bore 81 within said shank. The shank 86 is adapted to extend through elongated apertures 88, 89 in a U-shaped member 98 which is formed ofbimetallic thermostatic metal of well-known construction. The metal of greater expansibility will be on the outside of member 98, so that as y temperature rises the arms of the U-member will be caused to approach each other and as the temperature falls said arms will be caused to spread apart. The member 98 rests upon a flange collar 92 threaded 'into and secured to a wide follower 93 which in turn rests upon a diaphragm member 94 secured to a floating ring.95 by means of a threaded ring 96, asclearly shown in Fig. 5. The member 92 is provided with a pin 91 which is adapted to move in the center bore 81 within shank 96 whereby the thrust of threaded thumbscrew 9| through flange 85 will be transmitted to and through U-shaped thermostatic member 98 to follower 93 and thence to diaphragm 94.

Spaced from diaphragm 94, as indicated at 98,-

in Fig. 5, isa second diaphragm 99 which is held within ring by threaded ring |88, and which diaphragm 99 in turn engages-a follower |8|.

Threaded into the follower 8| is a stem |82 pressure decreases the gas within chamber 98 will expand and tend to push diaphragms 94 and 99 further apart. Since movement in one direction is prevented by thumbscrew 9| and connecting parts the sum of the spreading movement will be transmitted through stem |82 and cap |81 to spring 21, with the result that decrease of external pressure will increase pressure upon the spring and correspondingly increase flow of gas (oxygen or whatever gas may be desired) from the regulator valve to the inhaler tube 69. I n this connection it will be understood that the thermostatic U-member 98 will be made of metal of such strength and stiffness as to resistany effect of moving the arms of said U-member relapansion in chamber 98 and maintaining ow of gas from the regulator constant through varying degrees of temperature. y

To adjust for extreme delicacy and accuracy f of operation, the thermostatic U-member 90 has the center of its curved head at |08 engaged by a screw member |09 which is threaded through an ear I|Y on follower 93., Similarly a plate follower lllhas swiveled connection with a screw member ||2 which is threaded in 'an ear ||3 on follower 93, in line with the same but on the opposite side from the center ,of the follower, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The plate follower takes in guide apertures I4 in thermostatic member 90.. Screw member II2 will be operated through an aperture I l5 in yoke member 80. By operating screws |09 and ||2 it will be evident that the thermostatic U-member 90 can be moved longitudinally, the slots 88 and 89 permitting said movement, whereby the action of member 90 from changes of temperature will result in a greater or less amount of throw, according as the fulcrum point is further from or nearer to the head |88, thereof. .A setscrew IIB holds adjusting screw |09 in xed position, and a lsetscrew I I1 holds adjusting screw ||2 in position.

Another form oi thermostatic member which will eect the same results as the member 90 is shown in Fig. 9. In this form two slightly bowed thermostatic members |3|, |32 are provided, formed of bimetallic thermostatic metal with the metal of greater coefficient of expansion on adjacent sides. The member |3| is provided with an aperture |33 at one end through a flattened portion |34, anc the member |32 is provided with a peg |35 which extends through the aperture |33. The two members |3| and |32 are thus held locked against relative movement at one end. The other ends of these members have attened portions contacting, as indicated at |36. It follows that as temperature rises the members |3| and |32 will tend to straighten and thus their adjacent faces'draw closer together. As temperature fallsthe members |3| and |32 will tend to bow more and thus their adjacent faces be spread farther apart.

As shown in Fig. 9, the thermostatlc member just described is positioned in the place of member 9U in Fig, 5 except that there is provided no endwise adjustment. An aperture in thermostatic member |3| thumbscrew member 83 and the ange 85 thereof rests upon the top c member |3|. In like manner the outside of member |32 rests upon ange 92 and pin 91 passes through an aperture in member |32 and into bore 81 within shank 86. When so assembled it will be obvious that the thermostatic member |3I, |32, with the metal of greater expansibility on the adjacent sides thereof operates in the same manner as thermostat member S0, whereby when increase in temperature in chamber 98 of the pressurestat tends to spread the diaphragins apart and increase rez-ives the shank 86 of,

pressure on spring 21, the thermostatic member |3I, |32 will have the supporting portions thereof brought closer together and compensate for this change of pressure in the pressurestat to maintain the action upon spring 21 and the regulator constant throughout such changes of temperature.

A variant form of the thermostatic U-member 90 is indicated at IIB in Figs. 7 and 8. In this form, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, round apertures I|9 and |20 are provided through the arms of the thermostatic member, and there will be no adjustment for delicate accuracy, as in the form of thermostatic member shown in Fig. 6.

The flow of gas past piston 66 and through corresponding"passageway 61 to discharge members 68 and 69 comprises a flow meter of wellknown construction. The piston 6B is connected with a stem |2| which operates within the bore |22 of a glass tubing |23. rIhe tubing |23, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, is positioned adjacent a scale |24 which may be formed on a removable plate |25 of paper or other desired material. The end of the stem |2|, showing within tube |23, will indicate upon scale |24 the rate of flow of gas per minute in a desired measurement, as; for example, liters per minute. By operating the thumbscrew 9|, and observingA the position of the end of stem |2| in reference to scale |24, the pilot or other operator can adjust and determine at all times the now of gas going through delivery A tube 69 t0 pilots and passengers.

The pressure of gas coming from the source of supply into the apparatus is indicated by a customary gauge, shown at |26 in Figs. 1 and 3.

The apparatusJ will be mounted in any convenient position where accessible by the operator, as indicated in Fig. 1. The mounting may be in the cabin of an airplane, indicated generally at |21, and upon the instrument board therein, indicated at |28, by means of, for example, a post |29 which may be threaded into the casting |I| of the regulator, as indicated 'at |3l).

The advantages of my invention and its mode of operation have been pointed out quite fully in the foregoing specication. The primary adtrolling flow of oxygen is compensated bythe bi` metallic thermostat' member subject to such changes of-temperature.

I claim:

1. A gas delivery regulator including a valve, a diaphragm connected with the valve and adapted to close the same by reason or gas pressure upon the diaphragm, a spring exerting compressive force through said Vdiaphragm upon the valve and tending to open it, an expansive pressurestat cooperating with said spring to vary its pressure inversely as external atmospheric pressure varies for controlling the Valve to vary flow of gas due to said change of pressure, and'means operative upon said pressurestat and said spring automatically to vary the pressure on the spring to compensate for variations of gas ow relative to valve opening due to changes of temperature.

2. A gas delivery regulator including a valve, a diaphragm connected with the valve and adapted to close the same by reason of gas pressure valve and tending to open it, an expansive pressurestat cooperating with said spring to vary its pressure inversely as external atmospheric pressure varies for controlling the valve to vary flow of. gas due to said change of pressure, a thumb screw acting through said pressurestat for varying the pressure exerted by said spring, and a thermostatic member between said thumb screw and pressurestat adapted automatically to vary the pressure on the spring to compensate for variations of gas flow relative to valve opening due to changes of temperature.

3. A gas delivery regulator including a valve, a. diaphragm connected with the valve and adapted to close the same by reason of gas pressure upon the diaphragm, a spring exerting compressive force through said diaphragm upon the valve and tending to open it, an expansive pressurestat cooperatingwith said spring to vary its pressure inversely as external atmospheric pressure varies for controlling the valve to vary ilow of gas due to said change of pressure, and a U-shaped bimetallic thermostatic Vmember having its limbs lengaged by said thumb screw and pressurestat respectively with the metal of greatest coeilicient of expansion on the outside thereof to vary the pressure on the spring to compensate for the variations of gas ilow relative to valve opening due to changes of temperature.

4. A gas delivery regulator including va valve. a diaphragm connected-with the valve and adapted to close the same by reason of gas pressure upon the diaphragm, a spring exerting compressive force through said diaphragm upon the valve and tending to open it, an expansive pressurestat cooperating with said spring to vary its pressure inversely as external atmospheric pressure varies for controlling the valveI to vary flow of gas due tosaid change lofpressure, a U-shaped 40 bimetallic thermostatic member having its limbs engaged by said thumb screw and pressurestat respectively with the metal of greatest coeillcient of expansion on the outside thereof to vary the pressure on'thespringt'o compensate for the 46 variations of gas flow relative to valve opening due to changes of temperature, and means to move said U-shaped thermostatic member longitudinally o1" itssletsl to adjust the eiective thrust thereof spring due to changes of temperature.

5. A gas delivery regulator comprising a valve controlled by a diaphragm and a spring engageable therewith, an expansible pressurestat, means connecting said pressurestat directly with said spring, and manually controlled means including a thermostatic member outside the pressurestat forming an abutment for receiving the combined force of the thrust of the spring and the pressurestat.

6. A gas delivery regulator comprising a, valve controlled by a diaphragm and a spring engageable therewith, a plate provided with a slidable .stem engaging said spring, a second plate, a

pressurestat having expansible walls contacting the opposed faces of said plates, a thermostatic member supported outside of said second plate, and means holding said thermostatic member for receiving the ,combined force of the thrust of the spring and the pressurestat.

7 A gas delivery regulator comprising a valve controlled by a diaphragm and a spring'engageable therewith, a plate provided with a slidable stem engaging said spring, a second plate, a pressurestat having expansible walls engaging the opposed faces of said plates and holding them spaced one from the other, an abutment mounted for adjusting movement toward or from said plates, and a two-armed thermostatic member having one of its arms contacting the second plate .and its other arm contacting the thermostat to receive the combined force of the thrust of the spring and the pressurestat.

8. A gas delivery regulator comprising a valve controlled by a diaphragm and a spring engageable therewith, a plate provided with a slidable stem engaging said spring, a second plate, a-

pressurestat having expansible walls engaging the opposed faces of said plates and holding them spaced one from the other, an abutment mounted for adjusting movement toward or vfrom said plates, a two-armed thermostatic member having one of its arms contacting the second plate and its other arm contacting the thermostat to receive the combined force of the thrust of the spring and the pressurestat, 'and means to move the thermostatic member longitudinally of its arms to change the length of throw of said arms effected by given changes of temperature.

-' JAY A.l HEIDBRINK.' 

